World Grand Prix 2021: Gerwyn Value beats Michael Smith on opening night time

Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant

Gerwyn Value laid down a marker on the opening night time of the World Grand Prix in Leicester (Picture: Lawrence Lustig/PDC)

Gerwyn Value in opposition to Michael Smith is a match extra more likely to be discovered on the finish of a match fairly than the beginning, however on opening night time on the World Grand Prix the Iceman served up a glowing show to ship ‘Bully Boy’ packing.

Value kickstarted his run to a maiden world title and the world No 1 rating with victory on this match final yr, however face the hardest attainable begin to his try and turn into simply the third man to defend the title.

Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen are the one gamers to have claimed back-to-back titles within the distinctive match – which requires gamers to begin and end on a double – and Value is pretty much as good as they arrive on the outer ring as he confirmed in a blockbuster first-round match.

It is the time of yr the place darts turns into busier with the run in to the World Championship and Value arrives in prime kind having gained the final two rating titles of the yr – and his marker on opening night time can have captured the eye of Van Gerwen and Peter Wright, who begin their marketing campaign on Monday night.

Value sees off Smith in excessive profile opener

Value recovered from dropping the primary leg of the match – to Smith’s good 126 – to win the following three legs with a few three-figure finishes of his personal that took him into the lead.

Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant

Michael Smith hits a 126 checkout on the bullseye in opposition to Gerwyn Value of their opening spherical match on the World Grand Prix.

Having taken out 116 and 105 on his approach to the primary set, Value did not should be fairly as emphatic within the second, his heavy scoring proving sufficient to maintain tempo with an equally spectacular Smith.

An exciting second set went the space, however in a deciding fifth leg it was Value who prevailed, pouncing after Smith missed three darts to degree the match and permitting the Welshman to finish a 2-0 victory over Smith who was powerless within the face of simply the seventh 100+ common recorded within the match’s historical past.

Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant

Gerwyn Value defeats Michael Smith in straight set to maneuver into the final 16 of the World Grand Slam.

He’ll face Mervyn King within the final 16 after the 2012 runner-up made barely tougher work of his contest with Dutch debutant Martijn Kleermaker, who had settled first for an early 2-1 lead.

Nevertheless in a match that featured loads of missed doubles King’s expertise was sufficient to see him battle again and after each males had already missed possibilities to assert the primary set, King pinned double two for the lead.

Kleermaker ‘s struggles on the outer ring continued and regardless of heavy scoring he managed only one extra leg as King booked his place within the second spherical and a gathering with Value.

Sensible Bunting serves up stellar show

After reaching the semi-finals on his World Grand Prix debut in 2014, Stephen Bunting has managed simply two wins in his final 5 appearances on the occasion – and he missed out totally final yr after returning a optimistic coronavirus check on the eve of the competitors.

Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant

Stephen Bunting takes out three century checkout’s in opposition to Daryl Gurney to achieve the second spherical of World Grand Prix.

Nevertheless he served up the efficiency of the opening night time to ship 2017 champion Daryl Gurney packing amid a barrage of 180s and three-figure finishes and arrange a second-round match in opposition to James Wade, who gained a thriller in opposition to debutant Damon Heta.

A run to the World Championship semi-final in December has kickstarted Bunting’s profession and the previous BDO world champion piled in three most 180s on his approach to the primary set which he sealed with a superb 100 check-out.

There was no let-up, he added one other 180 and two extra huge finishes as Gurney had no reply, successful only one extra leg as Bunting’s 113 and 104 check-outs helped him to a superb 99.05 common.

Up subsequent for The Bullet is a two-time champion within the form of Wade who needed to dig deep to see off Heta in arguably the match of the night time.

Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant

James Wade takes out a 121 checkout on the bullseye to defeat Damon Heta in a thriller on the World Grand Prix.

Heta raced right into a 2-0 lead, however proceeded to overlook darts for the set within the third and fourth leg, permitting Wade to nip in and never solely degree however declare the opening set.

Undaunted, Heta levelled the match when he claimed the second set with a superb 121 the spotlight. Nevertheless in a ultimate set that went all the way in which, Wade claimed the victory with an excellent 121 end on the bull.

Smith and Humphries dazzle on debut

Ross Smith conjured up the primary main shock of the match, knocking out the world no 13 Joe Cullen with a stellar show that noticed him win 2-0 and arrange a date with two-time runner-up Dave Chisnall.

Smith has made a behavior of successful in opposition to the large names – he has a excessive profile win over Michael van Gerwen below his belt – however as he mentioned in his interview on stage it is about following up these wins.

Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant

Ross Smith reaches the final 16 on debut after a straight units victory over Joe Cullen within the World Grand Prix.

He has the shape to do it this yr, successful his first PDC title earlier this yr on the Professional Tour and he swept to the primary set as Cullen managed only a solitary dart at a double.

The Rock Star fared little higher within the second, and it was the flexibility to hit the double early that proved the distinction, Smith was hitting 70 per cent of his darts to begin, compared to Cullen’s 23 per cent and Smith eased by means of the second set.

Chizzy, runner-up in 2019 and 2013, was given a a lot harder check by in-form Mensur Suljovic, finally knocking out the skilled half of Austria’s World Cup of Darts runner-up pairing with a hard-fought 2-1 victory.

Luke Humphries had set the tone for the debutants early on, impressing massively as he has accomplished all yr with a 2-0 victory that despatched final yr’s runners-up Dirk van Duijvenbode packing.

Luke Humphries knocked out final yr’s runner-up as he chases his first PDC title (Picture: Lawrence Lustig/PDC)

The Dutchman had dazzled in Coventry to achieve the ultimate on his debut final yr, however he was taking part in catch-up all through in opposition to UK Open runner-up Humphries who has reached 4 finals already this season as he chases his maiden PDC title.

‘Cool Hand’ claimed the primary set after van Duijvenbode had missed 10 of his 11 darts at double. Regardless of an improved exhibiting within the second set from his opponent, Humphries was far too constant and on his personal Grand Prix debut will hope to emulate Van Duijenbode’s spectacular run final yr.

Humphries’ reward is a showdown with Ryan Searle because the draw opens up for each males following Searle’s spectacular 2-1 victory over former World Matchplay champion and world No 5 Dimitri Van den Bergh.

Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant

Ryan Searle hits a unbelievable 150 checkout to take the opening set in opposition to Dimitri Van den Bergh within the World Grand Prix.

Searle began quick in an exciting contest with the perfect, taking the opening set with a superb 150 end, however exhibiting trademark composure Van den Bergh hauled himself again into the match and compelled a deciding set.

An exciting ultimate set went to the fifth and ultimate leg, the place each males missed a dart for a three-figure end that may have gained the match. Nevertheless Van den Bergh missed three extra darts for his sport within the second spherical and with the door open Searle booked his showdown with Humphries.

Do not miss a dart with seven days of dwell World Grand Prix motion from Leicester’s Morningside Area getting below manner on Sunday October 3 – be a part of us from 6pm on Sky Sports activities Area.